Bird feeder with rotatable cover

Abstract

A bird feeder having a generally planar seed tray and means for mounting such in a generally horizontal position. The bird feeder further includes a cover, generally of dome-shaped configuration and having a lower peripheral edge frictionally supported on an upstanding peripheral seed tray rim. The cover is capable of rotational movement with respect to the tray such that a bird access opening in the cover may be adjustably positioned downwind of the feeder in its use position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bird feeder comprising a seed tray having a seed distribution and bird feeding surface, a peripheral surface surrounding said feeding surface and means for mounting said tray in a generally horizontal attitude, a cover forming a generally imperforate upper surface and including at least one downwardly extending wall portion terminating in a lower terminal edge, said cover position above said seed tray with said terminal edge thereof superposed and in proximal or contacting relationship such that access to birds, wind and the like between such opposed surfaces is essentially prevented with respect to said seed tray peripheral surface, said cover including a bird access opening formed in said cover at one side thereof, said cover supported for free rotational movement with respect to said tray such that said access opening is positionable on the downwind side of said feeder when in use position. 
     
     
       2. The bird feeder of claim 1, said feeding surface being a generally planar, generally circular tray with an upstanding downwardly curved circumferential lip defining said peripheral surface. 
     
     
       3. The bird feeder of claim 2, said lip of a relatively wide smoothly curved configuration so as to discourage large birds from grasp perching thereon. 
     
     
       4. The bird feeder of claim 1, said cover terminal edge defining a circle or at least a portion thereof. 
     
     
       5. The bird feeder of claim 4, said bird access opening being an extensive cut-out portion extending through said cover wall portion and of chordal configuration. 
     
     
       6. The bird feeder of claim 5, the upper part of said cut-out defining said bird access opening including a horizontally outwardly extending rim. 
     
     
       7. The bird feeder of claim 1, said cover being of a generally dome-shape and said bird access opening being a chordal shaped cut-out portion thereof and of a vertical extent to permit direct flight small bird access but deny large bird access to said feed tray. 
     
     
       8. The bird feeder of claim 7, said cutout of a circumferential extent which is about 180° or less and of an equal vertical dimension throughout such extent. 
     
     
       9. The bird feeder of claim 1, said mounting means including a vertically oriented member from which said tray is supported so as to vertically position such, said member in turn supporting said cover for rotational movement with respect to said member and said tray. 
     
     
       10. The bird feeder of claim 9, said member including a relatively stiff rod extending through both said tray and said cover. 
     
     
       11. The bird feeder of claim 10, said cover frictionally freely rotatably supported on said tray essentially solely by the weight thereof. 
     
     
       12. The bird feeder of claim 9, said tray and said cover independently suported by said member, said member including a pair of vertically spaced collars upon which said tray and said cover are supported. 
     
     
       13. The bird feeder of claim 12, said collars being adjustably clamped to a rod extending through openings in both said tray and said cover. 
     
     
       14. The bird feeder of claim 2, said feeding surface disposed entirely below said upstanding peripheral surface, said circumferential lip being continuous.